Currently my dosage is 1600mg per day
How long would it take to be weaned off gabapentin and at what intervals?
Question posted by JanetMarie on 24 Aug 2013
Last updated on 27 July 2021
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
22 Answers
Pigs_in_ space
5 June 2019
Hi I was on Gabapentin 300mg for 1 year, used it for nerve damage, which honestly didn't do anything but leave me in Fog, just a blah feeling all day, felt like snacking at night alot. I had bad headaches, that was really the only withdrawal I had. With a higher dose I would ask your doc. At the time of the Gabapentin my oncologist also put me on Citalopram 20mg. I always felt hungry no matter what or when I ate. I'm very active, so will increase my walking etc..however, i did have a significant amount of weight gain , after chemo is when I really noticed at follow-up appt. Saying Wow! another 5 lbs in one month! Since the Gabapentin wasn't helping i stopped it. Now I'm thinking of stopping the Citalopram. Maybe stopping both with help regain some control. Suggestions on another med for nerve pain??
StephieDee
4 April 2019
I have been taking Gabapentin 1800mg 3 times a day for over 7 years. Yep, 5400mg/day. Just in the last year I have been having some major symptoms of jerking, dizziness, lacking coordination, memory loss and difficulty speaking. I'm getting scared so I backed down to 1800mg 2 times a day without much notice in pain return. Btw I take it for peripheral neuropathy. I am worried the side affects wont go away and the damage has been done.
Chrissee
14 Feb 2019
I realize this is an old post, but I thought I would add my own experience anyway. I have only been taking gabapentin for about 4 months. I recently got off of my klonopin in December. I was taking 300mg of gabapentin a few times a day one one and then three at night. I am now down to 300mg twice a day, hoping to be off very soon as it has cause 10lb weight gain in 2 months :( looking forward to being free from all pharmaceuticals. Does anyone have any experience with losing the weight from gabapentin after weaning off of the drug? Thank you!
Chrissy
Pigs_in_ space
5 June 2019
Hi. I recently stopped taking Gabapentin for nerve pain/damage. I took 300mg 3x a day for about 1 yr. I just couldn't adjust to how it made me feel. I felt bloated, tired, in a fog most of the day, didn't help much, and I wasn't interested in much. As far as gaining weight that was 5 lbs per month, got up to 50 lb weight gain in less than 1yr. I'm working on that. I have added yoga, easy slow stretching I recommend at first beginners classes online YouTube is where i go. And make sure your doctor knows if you begin any exercises. Depending on your med background restrictions, it may help with weightloss. It also has helped my stiffness and nerve pain in my neck and back. Goodluck!
tbondy
17 Oct 2018
I started Gabapentin after recovering from shingles and developing postherpetic pruitus(itching). I worked my way up to 600mg 4X(2400mg daily) per day as it seemed to be the only level in which I felt normal. After 90 days, gaining 10lbs, and not knowing if my condition had improved, I decided to taper off the medication to see if I could get off completely or determine the minimum amount I needed. I removed one 300 mg pill every 3 days until I got down to 300mg 4 times daily(1200 mg). When it was time to go to 3 pills, my doctor switched me to Gralise which is the extended release version. I am now on the 3rd day of 300 mg 3x daily and will go to two pills per day tomorrow. The irony is that my itching has not gotten substantially worse as I have taken pills away. Through the process, I have been taking ReMag which is a liquid magnesium supplement. I have suffered few symptoms beyond poor visual acuity, a little bit of agitation, and some fatigue. I am eager to get off this medication once and for all!
Jcdjjsf
7 June 2018
Was at 1800mg per day now trying to wean down to 600mg per day
Lindmissi
16 April 2018
I got off this drug in 28 days I and I feel amazing again/ don’t let anyone ever give you this!
I weaned from the 1800 mg to 0
First time took 300 off in afternoon. 7 days. Then took another 300 in pm. Went down to every 5 days after this LAST WEEK WENT TO 400 mg for 4 days and then down to 300 for 2 days. Then dumped the pills in a bag to take to police department to get rid of!
I took 1000 mg magnesium a day. While I have anxiety still I’m tapering off another nasty drug Effexor onto a safer gentler one lexapro. I know this one might be difficult but I am going to do it too! Don’t ever ever take these drugs. They mess with you/
bbday
1 May 2018
can you explain again what you did? you took.2 pills a day for 7 days? then?
Wedding23
15 April 2018
How long and how to ween off 1800 mg a day of gabapentin can anyone help me ?
Dewelde8
27 March 2018
I just started about 4 weeks ago taking 300 mg of Gabapentin for leg pain, how do i ween off if them? Thanks in advance
cindy-59
27 March 2018
Hi Dewalde8. It can take only 2 weeks for these types of drugs to change the brain. I would suggest for you to start tapering off at 10% and stay there for approximately 2 weeks and see how your body is handling the taper. If your feeling ok... great! You can continue at 10% tapers. If not I suggest you stay at that amount until you do. It would be a good idea to keep notes on the journey of withdrawing so you won't forget where you are at; plus you can look back to see how you have done in the past weeks. I wish you the best and take care.
Cindy59
cindy-59
23 March 2018
I’ve been on Gabapentin for 8-9 years and I started tapering in June 2017. I’m tapering by 10% and holding there for 2 weeks. As you get closer to the end you should go slower and hold it longer. I have found this to be the best way for me. I tapered off Cymbalta like this and I’m completely off it now. Best wishes and take care everyone.
Cindy59
TKMarsh711
7 June 2018
Mine are capsules. How do you taper 10%?
cindy-59
7 June 2018
Mine are capsules too. They have little beads in them. I took out the beads of three capsules and counted to see how many beads were in each one. Then I divided by three to find the approximate amount. Then I started with that number and taking out 10% every two to three weeks depending on how my body was handling the taper. It can be hard counting the little beads at first but it becomes easier fast. I use a black cloth to count them on and I use a finger nail file to divide them. I put them in piles of 10 so it’s easier to keep track. You can use different things that you have if it works out better for you. Let me know how you’re doing with the taper if you don’t mind. I’m here if you need to ask me about anything.
Tishmarr
3 Dec 2018
Cindy I am taking 200mg in the am & 200mg in the pm. I hoping to taper down to 100mg in the am & 100mg in the pm. I’ve been on it 3 weeks. I am terrified because the last time I weaned off I had a panic attack and had to get back on. I was only on it three weeks then as well. The difference now is I am on Paxil 30mg for 4 weeks now. The first time I weaned off I was not on Paxil so I’m hoping that will help. I was on Paxil for 8 years prior and prob should have never stopped it.
Tishmarr
3 Dec 2018
Cindy, sorry I meant to ask... your thoughts? You seem very informative about this med.
cindy-59
3 Dec 2018
Hi Tishmarr. Gabapentin/Neurontin, Cymbalta/Duloxetine and Lyrica/Pregabalin and other medications like them need to be tapered off slowly. That’s my opinion along with thousands of other people. Before taking these medications I was an outgoing, energetic and healthy woman. So far they have taken 10 years away from me but no more! By the first of the year (2019) I will be completely off and I will start my life again. With Gabapentin; like Lyrica is a powder. I made a mistake in an earlier comment on this question about Gabapentin being beads but it’s Cymbalta that’s beads. I wanted to clear that up first. These medications can play havoc on our bodies and our brain. It’s so easy to get confused now.
The way that I’ve been getting off these medications is to slowly taper off by 10% of the last dosage taken every 10-14 days. Some people have been able to go a bit faster and some have had to go slower. Some people have had to taper off by 5%. We are all different so we have to listen to what our bodies are telling us. To taper off Gabapentin; which comes in a powder you can mix it with water at 1:1 solution. The amount of mgs in the dose is the amount of warm water in mls needed for the mixture. You need to heat the water and allow to cool slightly, water should be warm enough to dissolve contents easily, but not boiling.
The fact that you have taken Gabapentin a short time and at a lower dosage than many others is in your favour (although it might not seem like that to you right now). I should let you know that if are already in a place that your body is not stabilized you will need to wait for that to happen before you start your taper. If you decide that this is how you’re going to do your taper and you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask me anything. If I don’t know the answer I will do my best to help you find it. Some people have been really blessed to have a compounding pharmacy in their area and have been able to go that route. This is usually the best way; if possible. I sure hope that I have made sense and that it will help you in some way. I will help you anyway possible to get this medication out of your body and your life. Cindy
mwjwriter
23 March 2018
I was on only 300 mg. in the morning. I switched to the 100 mg. caps and started eliminating one about every 3 wks. I had no withdrawal.
SweetAlyssaD
18 June 2018
Once you got to 100 mg, did you just go right to 0 after 3 weeks?
mwjwriter
18 June 2018
I don't remember, but I think I went to every other day for 3 weeks, then to one less a week till I was finished.
Castrob524
21 March 2018
200 mg daily
Boricua02
27 Oct 2017
Hi I have ms I am drinking 2 gabapentin 300 mg 3 times at day this makings me loos the balance and my coordination i going to stop talking gabapentin i don't know but i been depressed on this day you feeling the same?
Mrstorgy
11 Oct 2017
900mg per day
Mrstorgy
26 Nov 2017
It isn’t helping me
Sinbad350
10 March 2017
Hi, all my name is phil .
I been on Gabapentin over 3 years dose 1200mg three times a day .
I wish to come off these and reading these post I better see my doctor before coming off.
I getting blurred vision and weight gain since they change suppliers .
Also major spazams or tremors not sure how to discribe it .
My Gabapentin was thin yellow tablets now a thick green and white tablet I was wondering if the coating the problem .
Any advise welcome
noelle55
26 July 2017
did you ever come off completely??
Cynthia1862
16 Aug 2017
I've gained 70 lbs since I started taking it!
kiki69
2 Dec 2017
Since I have been put on 800mg TID(3x day) versus the 600mg daily I have gained 27 pounds. And I am miserable. I'm not taking it for seizure activity; I take it for peripheral neuropathy. It does not seem to be working anymore and I am going to wean off of it after I speak to my pain doctor later this month.
Tammy7
15 May 2018
Hi everyone, I started with Gabapentin 5 years ago at 300 mg. I am now at 2400 mg and it doesn't do anything for the extreme nerve pain in my feet (peripheral neuropathy). I spoke with my podiatrist this morning and he suggested Cymbalta or Lyrica after I wean myself down from the 2400 mg. For those who have posted here with the high doses, how long did it take you to wean off and did you experience side effects?
My other question is for those who weaned off Gabapentin successfully, did you start another med? If so, what did you try and did it work? The peripheral neuropathy (I am not a diabetic) has gotten progressively worse over the years since high school track and cross country, and 9 surgeries on my feet for torn ligaments, bursitis, tendinitis, tarsal tunnel and plantar fasciitis have effectively destroyed any chance of getting my feet back to normal.
As an aside, I have been experiencing dermatographia where I get very itchy and when I scratch I end up with raised welts everywhere my fingernails touched which last for up to 30 minutes. No one seemed to know what caused it, but now I'm wondering if it's the Gabapentin.
I greatly appreciate your shared experiences. Thanks!
cindy-59
8 June 2018
Hi Tammy. I took Lyrica for 7-8 years and I’ve been taking Cymbalta for 8-9 years. These drugs have changed my life... for the worst. They seemed to help at first; but then all h*ll started. The pain started getting worse. I went from a size five to a size thirteen. I was so miserable that I thought my family and I would be better off dead. I found out later that suicidal tendencies can be one of the side effects. I had almost every side effect that’s listed. The withdrawals are horrible too. I’m not saying that this will happen to you; but I wanted to let you know that it does happen. Please take care and I wish you all the best. Cindy
jenjuniper73
27 July 2021
Hello, I've been on Gabapentin for 12 years , and originally was put on Gabapentin for a mood stabilizer! I have weaned myself down to 200 mg every other day and at one time was on 3000 mg! its been just in the past 6 months or so that I've decided to go off of the med. I feel it isn't really helping any of the pain I have, which is mainly muscular, and I have gained 50 pounds since I started taking it, at the higher dose I noticed I really retained fluid.
I also have tremors, some days worse than others, and notice since I've been trying to wean off this med that my anxiety has been kind of crazy, but it is in the withdrawals , that rebounding anxiety can happen, so I've been taking my klonopin to try and get through this.
Best of luck to you and all who are trying to get through this!
Gloriajcap3
3 Feb 2017
300mg a day
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Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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